I made a bet with somebody I was hot for

That's the kind of thing that taught me long ago never to make bets. Though paying off the losing bet was fun.

Well, it's fake really...just a little fake external pressure to make me stick it out.

Ah, fake pressure means you can up the ante outrageously. Tell tales of the horrid forfeits you'll have to pay.

who knows? There could be costumes... I'm late right now, actually. Because back in November I was having 2000 word days, so I said I could have it by 1/1. So didn't happen. December's been very hit-or-miss.

Can I get some betas for a little six-page bit of novel?

Sail, I think I'm at the same place with my writing.

Susan, I'm something like 5 years older than you, and 5000 paces behind you in experience, and 5,000,000 in work ethic. I'm glad you had your ephiphany, and hope it makes it easier for you to just be you. I think your ideas on excellence equalling talent+work ethic are right on. I am of the non-competitive type, enough so, that even Victor's be-the-best-*you* can be leaves me wondering if I can be ( or be arsed) to be the best I can be.

I have been made speechless by how many really fabulous fanfic writers there are in the Jossverse, and I always wonder if they're writing original stuff, too.

Yep, AmyLiz, me too. Every fanfic story of Plei's that I've read has left me wanting to go to B&N and pick up her latest original fiction. I feel like a thief, reading her for free. Her characterization is to die for, her wording is gifted, her plots are compelling...I'm getting verklempt.

Plei's fanfic is absolutely delicious, in every sense of the word. I love...oh dear, now I'm forgetting...Herself, I think it is?, too.

And Cindy, you write beautifully. I can imagine a whole raft of personal essays from you one day, on parenting and faith and family and simply being a person in the world today. I love reading your LJ.

Drabble on Falling (100 words exactly, excluding title):

I don't think about it, really, even though my left arm no longer extends fully. I should have removed those damned toe-clips when I inherited the bike. But I didn't, and I can't afford physical therapy. So I wander around with one and a half functional arms, not even noticing until I do something mundane like tie my shoes. An annoyance, nothing more.

I wonder, in darker moments, whether this is the path my life will take. Will I lose just one thing at a time, and not even notice? A gradual fade to nothing, to the universe's background noise.

And Cindy, you write beautifully. I can imagine a whole raft of personal essays from you one day, on parenting and faith and family and simply being a person in the world today. I love reading your LJ.

Definitely. And one of the reasons I feel such a fraud. I look at the level of writing I see by everyone here (and for some reason, I've always felt the most intimidated by Cindy!) and I wonder that I dare to post my stuff in the same space. But that's what I've finally decided. I have to. Trite but true--nothing ventured, nothing gained. So, here I am.

Sail, you have plenty of talent, and nothing at all to be ashamed of. Post here and be welcome.